African violet plant named Irish Ruffles

ABSTRACT

A cultivar of African violet plant named Irish Ruffles, characterized by its white flower color with ruffled light green edges, large single flowers, medium green foliage, compact growth habit, and its floriferous habit.

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of Africanviolet plant, botanically known as Saintpaulia ionantha, named IrishRuffles.

The new cultivar is a product of a planned breeding program carried outby applicant in Hannover, Federal Republic of Germany. The basicobjective of the breeding program was to create a new African violetcultivar having single green and white bicolored flowers with rufflededges, ruffled foliage, a highly floriferous habit, and a compact growthhabit. The new cultivar was originated from a cross made by applicant inthe controlled breeding program. Both the female (or seed) and the male(or pollen) parents are unnamed and not identifiable at this time.

Irish Ruffles was discovered and selected by applicant as a floweringplant with the progeny of the stated cross in a controlled environmentin Hannover, Federal Republic of Germany. Asexual reproduction of thenew cultivar by leaf cuttings, as performed by applicant at Hannover,Federal Republic of Germany, has demonstrated that the combination ofcharacteristics as herein disclosed for the new cultivar are firmlyfixed and retained through successive generations of asexualreproduction.

Irish Ruffles has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions. The phenotype may vary significantly with variations inenvironment such as temperature, light intensity and day length. Thefollowing observations, measurements and values describe the newcultivar as grown in Parrish, Fla. under greenhouse conditions whichclosely approximate those generally used in commercial practice.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe basic characteristics of Irish Ruffles which in combinationdistinguish this african violet as a new and distinct cultivar:

(1) Large single zygomorphic rotate flowers with an extremely ruffledmargin, and 35-40 mm in diameter.

(2) Flowers are bi-colored with a white background and sections of greenon the edges.

(3) Medium green pubescent foliage, oval shaped with slightly ruffledsinuate margins, cordate base and broadly acute apex.

(4) Compact rosette habit with flowers held erect on strong uprightpeduncles.

(5) Very floriferous, with flowers continuing to open for many weeksafter the onset of flowering.

(6) Suitable for production in 10 cm pots, finishing in 9-13 weeks whenstarted from a 21/4" plantlet.

The new cultivar is similar in certain characteristics to Fairy Queen,disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 4,935. Irish Ruffles is principallydistinguished from Fairy Queen by its less ruffled leaves, and greeninstead of rose colored picotee.

The accompanying photographic drawing shows a typical specimen plant ofthe new cultivar. The photograph is in black and white, with certainleaves and flowers being colored to show the green petal edges. Thecolors depict true color as stated in the color values below.

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart (R.H.S.), except where general colorsor ordinary significance are referred to. Color values were taken underfluorescent light conditions at approximately 4:00 p.m. in Parrish, Fla.

Botanical classification: Saintpaulia ionantha, Ramat., cv. IrishRuffles.

Parentage: Unknown.

Propagation: The new cultivar holds its distinguishing characteristicsthrough successive propagations by leaf cuttings.

Plant: From 4 cm to 10 cm tall when grown in pots, and approximately 22cm in diameter when fully grown. The growth rate is vigorous, and thegeneral shape of the fully grown plant is round.

Leaves.--Quantity: Abundant. Shape: Oval with ruffled sinuate margins.Diameter: Up to 8 cm for a mature leaf. Texture: Pubescent, glossy. Ribsand veins: Pinnate. Color (upper side): 137 A. Color (under side): 138D. Petioles: Light green.

Flowers.--Buds: Size: About 1 cm×1 cm. Shape: Round. Rate of opening:Normal. Sepals: Shape: Lanceolate. Color: Light green. Phyllaries: 2,lanceolate. Color: 137 B. Calyx: Shape: Funnel. Size: 12-14 mm indiameter. Aspect: Pubescent. Peduncle: Length: Up to 9 cm. Character:Erect, rigid. Color: Light green.

Individual flowers.--Number of petals: 5. Size: 35-40 mm in diameter and10-15 mm deep Shape: Cup shaped when bloom first opens, becoming flat asbloom matures. Color (upper side): Clear white with sections of 144Dalong the edges. Color (under side): Same as upper side Flowers fadeslightly as they age. The flower color may vary somewhat depending uponthe amount of light, fertilizer, temperature and other growingconditions. Borne: Cymose clusters on upright peduncles, up to 9 cmlong. Flowering habit: Flowers profusely and intermittently year round,with blooms lasting 2-3 weeks after which petals dry up but do not drop.Finishes in 9-12 weeks when a 21/4" plantlet is placed in a 10 cm pot.

Reproductive organs.--Stamens: Stamens borne singly on one side ofovary; 2 anthers basifixed. Anthers: 2 mm×2 mm, yellow. Filaments: 3 mm,white. Pollen Color: Pale yellow. Pistils: Number: 1. Styles: 1, 6-7 mmin length. Stigma: Sticky, white. Ovaries: Superior.

Roots.--Fibrous and fine.

Disease resistance: No african violet diseases observed to date.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of African violet plant namedIrish Ruffles, as illustrated and described, and particularlycharacterized by its white flower color with ruffled light green edges,large single flowers, medium green foliage, compact growth habit, andits floriferous habit.